Go Kart Frame

Go Kart Frame Plans

Most people take the easy way out and simply buy their go kart, but it’s possible to save money by making or assembling your own. The go kart frame is the most important component since everything else attaches to it. Start your go cart project off on the right foot by learning how to make, find, or buy the right go cart frame.

If you want to know how to build a go kart frame there are available go kart frame plans that can help you accomplish your goal. A go kart frame is the foundation for your entire go kart. If you are building your own and want stability and control it’s important to start with a well-built frame. You can either buy one that has already been welded or you can weld your own. If you choose to weld your own you have two options. You can either buy a go kart frame kit that has not been welded yet, which will include go kart frame plans, or make and weld your own frame.

Welding Your Own Frame

Welding your own go kart frame requires a MIG welder (Metal Inert Gas process welder). If you have access to a MIG welder, or have a friend that knows how to use one, you can make your own go-kart frame or buy a kit where it has not been welded together yet. Without access to a MIG welder you can buy a go cart frame kit that has already been welded and start from there.

There are a couple of advantages to buying a welded go kart frame. First, it will eliminate a lot of work. And second, you can buy one with a steering hoop already attached. One of the most difficult processes of building your own kart is making the steering hoop. Welded go cart frames are actually rather cheap to buy and make the building process much easier.

Will You Build a Fun Kart or Off Road Go Kart?

One important consideration is deciding what type of gocart you will be building. Your options are a fun kart or an off road gokart. A fun kart will be much simpler to build because you won’t need a roll cage. Off road gokarts need a solid well-built frame with a roll cage and therefore will be much more expensive to buy or build.

It is usually better to buy go kart frame kits online because with a little searching you will usually find them much cheaper than from a local dealer. Make sure to order everything you need to build a complete go cart. Much of the fun can quickly evaporate if you are forced to order and wait for additional parts throughout the building process. If you are looking to save as much money as possible you can also take a trip down to a local go kart track. They will often have broken go carts sitting around and may sell used parts cheaply.

How to Do the Welding

If you have a MIG welder and are planning on welding your own frame it’s a good idea to be organized. You will either need a concrete floor or a large flat work bench at your disposal. The work bench is the better option because you can clamp things down when required.

The first step is to carefully measure and mark the exact center of the front axle. Next, lay out all of the frame pieces in their proper place on the work bench. Finally, it’s time to start the tack welding process. Tack welding is a type of welding that is used to temporarily hold the metal parts in the proper position. Begin with the front axle and systematically work your way to the back. All tack welded joints only need to be strong enough so that they won’t come apart when the frame is moved.

Once the entire go kart frame has been tack welded together it’s time for an intermediate inspection. Examine it carefully to make sure it is perfectly square and that everything is aligned correctly. Each go cart kit comes with a set of plans, so if you have followed the steps you should now have a properly aligned foundation for your kart.

Make Sure the Frame Will Not Warp

Once you have completed your inspection and everything looks good it’s time for the final welding. Using clamps, attach the go cart frame to the work bench so it won’t move during the welding process. Again, make sure that it is aligned properly after fastening it to the table. Clamping it down will also ensure that the frame will not warp. From this point on it’s a simple matter of following the instructions that came with the plan. Making your own go kart takes more work, but the satisfaction of driving a go cart that you made yourself is well worth the extra effort.